The preliminaries and qualifiers were merged into the preliminaries, and * * * three rounds were conducted, and 16 teams were decided, plus another 16 teams (including the defending team and 15 champions and runners-up teams from the highest ranking in Europe) participated in the official Champions League.

The 32 teams entering the Champions League will take part in two rounds of group matches: the first stage group match, in which 32 teams are divided into 8 groups for double-cycle group matches. The top two teams in each group will enter the second stage group match, and then draw lots on non-match days to decide the grouping of the second stage group match. The eliminated team will have a qualification to participate in the UEFA Cup. After drawing lots, the teams participating in the second-stage group stage will be divided into four groups, and the group double-cycle competition will also be held. The top two teams in each group will enter the rematch, and the rematch will be eight teams. Eight teams will draw lots on non-match days, and then they will fight each other to decide the four teams participating in the semi-finals. The teams participating in the semi-finals will decide the teams participating in the finals. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are both home and away double-round elimination matches. This is the Champions League we saw today.